Meth Bill Goes to Governor

Ind. General Assembly OKs bill limiting cold medicine sales

INDIANAPOLIS -- Legislation that would restrict the sale of cold medicines containing ingredients used to make methamphetamine unanimously passed both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly Friday, the Associated Press reported.

The bill includes several provisions designed to curb the production of meth by placing restrictions on the sale and purchase of drugs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which are commonly found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines.

Stores without pharmacies would be required to keep [image-nocss] the drugs in a locked case or behind a counter. Those with pharmacies also could have the drugs within sight of a pharmacy employee, if there was 24-hour video surveillance.

Convenience stores could choose one of four options of securing its drugs, including placing anti-theft devices on the packages.

Customers would be limited to 3 gramsabout 100 tabletsof the medicines per week and would have to show a state or federal ID and sign a logbook to make the purchases. The restrictions would begin July 1, and the bill must be approved by Governor Mitch Daniels.

Negotiations on the bill lasted all session, but Daniels said Friday that, I think we're going to get our meth bill.